Classic & Vintage - 27 inch gumwall tire options

I bought and very much like the ride of the Michelin World Tours but they are too wide and have rubbed the frame a couple times when the wheel was not properly tightened plus it's a bit out of true. Harris states these 32's are actually 33mm and that is very accurate.

If I went down to a 28mm Pasela, the Harris website states their actual width is only 25.5 which I think will be too small for my 210 lbs on old steel rims.

Is there anything in between with a gumwall or is the Pasela 32mm several mm smaller as well?

Thanks in advance!

You would be just fine (weight wise) but not with the old steel rims. I'm heavier and even use smaller tires with no problems. The problem is that your old steel rims won't have a hooked edge for the bead on a modern tire. The Paselas might slip off as you increase the preassure above 50 lbs. You will probably do better with a Kenda gumwall. It depends on your rims. What's the model, brand and vintage of the bike and rims?

You would be just fine (weight wise) but not with the old steel rims. I'm heavier and even use smaller tires with no problems. The problem is that your old steel rims won't have a hooked edge for the bead on a modern tire. The Paselas might slip off as you increase the preassure above 50 lbs. You will probably do better with a Kenda gumwall. It depends on your rims. What's the model, brand and vintage of the bike and rims?

PB, don't the Panaracer Paselas come in both wire bead and folding kevlar bead? I have the 700x28 wire bead Paselas on my Bottecchia with Rigida AL1622 rims with the slightly "bulged" sides as Frank Berto calls them, not actual hooks, and I run 105-psi with no problem.

To the OP, I weigh 200-lbs and have no problem at all with the 28mm Paselas so that shouldn't be an issue in itself.

The IRC DuroWinner II's or something like that are still out there. They can be had in 1 1/8" with as well. A decent tire for the cost.

It depends on your rims. What's the model, brand and vintage of the bike and rims?

Thanks Bob. It's a 78' Grand Prix with original Sturmey Archer steel rims in amazing condition. I plan to keep them for now even though I know they lack the best performance. This bike is just a dry weather fun ride for me, no commuting or touring planned. So far the Michelin's have held 75-80 psi for a few hundred miles. Here's a shot right after it was finished.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/18210z/IM000445.jpg

The Panaracer Paselas with a wire bead might work out for you as a quality tire that will not give trouble on the steel rims.

Personally, I love the IRC Roadwinner Duro II's, but I do not trust them on anything but a genuine hooked bead. They are much too cranky and prone to blowing off on bulged bead rims, and you can forget about them entirely on beadless rims, such as the aluminum Araya's of the 80's.

Not sure just how pronounced the beads are on your steel rims, but I would play it safe and treat them as you would an alloy bulged-bead.

-Kurt

I feel safe at 75-80 PSI with my one set of non-hooked rims, but I would hesitate to use any higher pressure.

The wire bead Paselas (1 1/8) ran fine on Rigida steel rims at 100PSI for me at 230lbs. That said, I like the ride of the Vittoria Zafiros better, though I realize they are not gumwalls.

Hope that helps

Karl